IN-SPACe mulls to start space courses at IITs, check details

The agency is at present in talks with the higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also apprised of the plans to begin these courses during the inauguration of IN-SPACe headquarters. 

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has said that it is planning to begin Space courses at IITs with at least two of them coming forward. IN-SPACe is the independent nodal agency mandated to both regulate and hand-hold the private industry in the space sector.

The agency is at present in talks with the higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also apprised of the plans to begin these courses during the inauguration of IN-SPACe headquarters. 

Vinod Kumar, director, directorate of promotions, IN-SPACe, told TOI: “There will be four courses: Launch vehicle and propulsion system; spaceflight mechanics and attitude dynamics; Spacecraft systems engineering and Space data products and services. Further, there’s an optional course on space economics, law and policy and benefits. We are targetting January 2023.”

All these courses have been jointly conceived with IIT-Bombay, IIT-Madras and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, the IN-SPACe stated.

“We are trying to introduce these courses at multiple academic institutions, including engineering colleges across the country. So far, IIT-B and IIT-M are working with us and we are also in talks with the UGC chairperson who is also interested. Formal presentations and discussions with UGC are planned in the coming months,” Kumar said.

IN-SPACe, which was created after the Centre announced space reforms about two years ago, will also be holding a national-level nanosatellite competition — CANSAT India — for college students to create awareness.

“As our larger objective is to enable the industry, the designing of the courses have been done keeping in mind the requirements of the private sector,” Kumar said.

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